Julius Caesar Notes

Julius Caesar

The Early Years

  • Born into the Julian Clan on July 13, 100 BC.
  • The family traced its origins back to the founding of Rome.
  • In 75 BC, Caesar was kidnapped by pirates in the Mediterranean Sea.
    • When the pirates said they would ask for a ransom of 20 talents, Caesar laughed and suggested they ask for 50.
    • He was held hostage for 38 days.
  • After his ransom was paid, Caesar pursued and captured the pirates.
    • He imprisoned them and took their treasure.

Rising Through the Ranks

  • Elected Senator at age 30.
  • At age 34, he was put in charge of public entertainments and won great popularity through lavish spending.
  • Elected Pontifex Maximus at age 36, a lifetime post that brought power, wealth, prestige, and a residence in the Forum.
  • At age 39, he became military governor in Spain, building his reputation as a general.
  • Helped spread Rome’s influence to modern-day France, Germany, and Spain.
  • Elected Consul, the highest office in Rome, at age 41.

The First Triumvirate

  • A group of three men holding power:
    • Marcus Licinius Crassus: The richest man in Rome.
    • Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great): The most successful general of the time.
    • Gaius Julius Caesar: Up-and-coming, popular, and Consul.
  • It was a quasi-alliance to gain power and influence over the Roman Republic.
  • Established to restore order to Rome.
    • Pompey and Caesar were initially allies; in 59 BC, Pompey married Caesar’s daughter, Julia.
  • Caesar aimed for more power through conquests and wealth.

Pompey the Great (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus)

  • Rome’s greatest general.
  • Conqueror of Numidia and Judea.
  • Wildly popular with his men and Roman citizens.
  • Wished to restore the rule of the Senate.

Marcus Licinius Crassus

  • Came from a patrician family.
  • Amassed a huge fortune in real estate during the Civil War.
  • Wealthiest man in Roman history.
  • Known for his greed.

End of the Triumvirate

  • In 53 BC, Crassus dies, ending the First Triumvirate.
  • This event set Pompey and Caesar against one another.

Gaul

  • After his Consulship, Caesar becomes governor of Illyricum, Italian Gaul, and Gaul-across-the-Alps.
  • This gave him the opportunity to command troops, conquer territory, and gain wealth.

The Gallic Wars

  • For 8 years, Caesar conquered parts of France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Switzerland.
  • He amassed wealth and sent it back to Rome, gaining popularity.
  • In 49 BC, Pompey, fed up with Caesar’s power and popularity, sided with the Senate.
  • Through his Commentaries of the war, published in Rome, he gained even greater celebrity.
  • His greatest accomplishment was defeating Vercingetorix, Leader of the Gauls.

Civil War

  • Caesar's enemies claimed he robbed the Roman public of its liberty by winning their favor with money.
  • Pompey and the Senate ordered Caesar to give up his command and break up his legions.
  • Caesar marched his legion down the Italian peninsula and “Crossed the Rubicon.”
    • The Rubicon was a symbolic border that generals were not supposed to cross with their armies when returning to Rome.
  • Caesar entered Rome with his legions and took control.
  • Pompey and the leading Senators fled to Greece to ready their army.
  • Caesar easily took Italy, Rome, and Spain.
  • Outnumbered, he faced Pompey in Greece and defeated him.
  • Pompey fled to Egypt.

Cleopatra

  • Became Queen of Egypt at age 17.
  • Joint Ruler of Egypt with her brother Ptolemy XIII, whom she was required to marry according to Egyptian custom.
  • Ptolemy XIII was 12 years old, and he died at 18.
  • Ptolemy and Cleopatra did not get along.
  • Ptolemy's advisors drove Cleopatra out into the desert so Ptolemy XIII could rule alone.
  • Pompey fled to Egypt after being defeated by Julius Caesar, hoping to find safety.
  • Ptolemy had Pompey beheaded and presented his head to Julius Caesar.

Ptolemy's Mistake

  • This was a major miscalculation, as Pompey was still Consul of Rome and Julius Caesar’s son-in-law.
  • Julius Caesar demanded that Pompey’s assassins be handed over to him.
    • Ptolemy refused.
  • Julius Caesar fought against Ptolemy's army.
  • Ptolemy, weighted by his armor of gold, drowned in the River Nile.
  • Cleopatra’s third brother Ptolemy XIV becomes joint ruler.

Julius and Cleopatra

  • Julius Caesar had Cleopatra restored to the throne of Egypt.
  • Cleopatra became Caesar’s mistress.
  • Cleopatra’s son Caesarean was probably Caesar’s son.
  • She and Caesarean lived in Rome with Julius.
  • Caesar refused to recognize Caesarean as his heir.

Julius the Dictator

  • When Caesar returned, he was declared dictator and appointed his friends to the Senate.
  • He grew arrogant and built a statue of himself titled “To the Unconquerable God.”

Caesar Tries to Save the Republic

  • Redistributed state-owned land.
  • Founded new colonies overseas.
  • Instituted Public Works, such as building roads, buildings, and drainage systems, to provide jobs.
  • Made gladiatorial games free to the public.
  • Doubled the size of the Senate.
  • Extended Roman citizenship to Greeks, Spaniards, and Gauls.
  • Reduced role of the Publicans.

Do the Reforms Work?

  • The government became BIGGER, not smaller.
  • The Roman Republic was fading fast, but Caesar was gaining popularity by providing:
    • Food
    • Housing
    • Jobs
    • Free entertainment